The government of the province of Manitoba, Canada, launched a website and a smartphone app in December to help residents find recycling depots near their homes easily.

The web portal, Manitoba Eco-Depot, allows visitors to enter their location and the items they would like to recycle (such as cell phones, pharmaceuticals or plastic bags). The website then generates a list of the closest recycling centres and displays their locations on an imbedded map.

The smartphone app, named Manitoba Eco Depot App, also allows users to find recycling centres close to their locations, along with driving directions to the centres. The app is available to download for free on the iTunes store.

Announcing the launch of the online tools, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh said, “If you need to find a place to recycle your phone or laptop – now all you need to do is ask them. Green Manitoba’s new online tools make it easier than ever to find the many accessible recycling depots in the province.”

The development of the app and website is part of Manitoba’s Green Plan called TomorrowNow, the government’s eight-year strategic plan for protecting the environment while ensuring a prosperous economy.